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Europe/Russia
Switzerland | The consolidation of Heineken’s European brewery network continues. In Switzerland, the Dutch brewer will invest a double-digit million figure of Swiss francs in its Lucerne facility. A new “city brewery” will be built on the 38,000-sqm grounds of the Eichhof brewery, which also doubles as Heineken’s Swiss headquarters. In a press release (27 August), Heineken announced that Eichhof products will continue to be brewed in Lucerne, but also limited-edition and seasonal specialty beers. Larger production volumes will be shifted to Heineken’s Calanda brewery in Chur. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2030.
Europe/Russia
Russia | The government has added light alcoholic beverages – including still and sparkling wines, beer, and ciders – along with electronic cigarettes, vape liquids, and nicotine salts to its list of strategically important goods, as was reported by The Moscow Times on 18 August. Under the updated Russian Criminal Code, individuals caught bringing these items across the Russian border or the Eurasian Economic Union without proper customs clearance face up to five years in prison if the shipment exceeds RUB 100,000 (USD 1100).
Europe/Russia
Denmark | Shares in Carlsberg fell on 19 August after the brewer reported first half results which were below consensus forecasts. Carlsberg's B shares were down 3.3 percent in late-morning Copenhagen trading. First-half revenue rose by just 2.6 percent to DKK 47 billion (USD 7.3 billion), while adjusted operating profit increased 4.5 percent to DKK 7.45 billion (USD 1.16 billion). Both results were slightly below forecasts.
Europe/Russia
Germany | It is an open secret in the chatty German brewing industry that Warsteiner’s owner Catharina Cramer is keeping the Haus Cramer Group afloat with her personal fortune, media report. The recently published 2024 annual report reveals that she has issued a so-called letter of support and subordination agreement totalling EUR 20 million (USD 23 million), which is valid through September 2027.
Europe/Russia
The cosmopolitan Bavarian and owner of Erdinger brewery, known for his iconic eyewear, died 8 August, aged 86.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Diageo released its highly anticipated turnaround plans on 6 August, which will see the world’s major drinks group nearly double Guinness production, while cutting back a “significant” proportion of its 30,000-strong workforce. Speaking after the company announced a decline in sales but slightly better-than-expected operating profit for its financial year 2026, the new CEO Dave Lewis said his turnaround plan would involve job cuts, adding that the “consequences of that are not great for anybody”.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Diageo’s USD 1.2 billion restructuring scheme tells you everything about the premiumization myth that has dominated the alcohol industry for the past decade. As Vitali Dziadul noted on LinkenIn, “the spirits category spent years convincing investors that consumers would endlessly trade up, that premium and super-premium segments were recession-proof, that emerging middle classes in Asia would fuel limitless growth. Diageo leaned into this narrative harder than most. Now reality arrives. Sales are declining in North America and Asia Pacific simultaneously.”
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Puritans on the march: Westminster Council, the now-Conservative-run local authority that covers London’s most popular drinking spots, has set out its ambition to radically limit “vertical drinking” (drinking while standing up) under a revision of its licensing policies. A consultation document, shared by the Guardian newspaper on 9 August, proposed to either forcing venues to provide a “minimum number of seats at all times” or “requiring sales to be by waiter or waitress service only”.
Europe/Russia
Belgium | Ahead of the EBC 2026 in Rotterdam (69 September), Ina Verstl sat down with John Brauer to discuss how the EBC and the brewing industry have evolved since 2008, when he became Executive Officer. She also grabbed the opportunity and asked him to do a bit of crystal ball gazing – which he reluctantly agreed to.
Europe/Russia
Belgium | The Belgian families who helped built the world's largest brewer just sold EUR 731 million (USD 845 million) worth of its shares, media reported on 3 August. Through their investment vehicle Eugenie Patri Sebastien (EPS), the Van Damme, de Mevius, and de Spoelberch families offered about 10 million shares (the equivalent of 0.5 percent of AB-InBev’s outstanding shares) at EUR 73.10 apiece in a block trade in early August.
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